Utter chaos will erupt when the announcer yells "go" as children dash out into the field to find the brightest of eggs and what takes days to prepare for will all be gone in a matter of minutes. CMI photo: Christina Calloway Portales Deputy Clerk Veda Urioste, joined by her dog Princess, stuffs the last […]

A teary-eyed Hank Baskett Jr. received a standing ovation as he accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award from the United Way of Eastern New Mexico for his dedicated service to the Oasis Children's Advocacy Center. Retiring United Way officials were also recognized at Thursday night's United Way awards banquet at the Clovis Civic Center. CMI staff […]

Amanda Jimenez of Portales is overwhelmed by the community's response to her daughter's needs. Her 9-year-old daughter Jaelyn Jimenez has been battling leukemia since she was 5, and the costs for her care have added up. Thursday's blood drive at Eastern New Mexico University, dedicated to Jaelyn, will help a great deal says Jaelyn's mother. […]

A masked man in a green hooded sweatshirt robbed New Mexico Bank and Trust branch in the Hilltop Plaza about 11 a.m. Thursday, according to Clovis police. A press release from police indicated a man entered the bank, demanded money, and escaped on foot. "Officers searched the surrounding neighborhood and spoke to numerous citizens in […]

A former Portales police officer could face up to 27 years of jail time after agreeing to plead guilty to more than a dozen charges, including having a sexual relationship with a minor. Victor Castillo, who was 45 at the time of his arrest in August, entered into an agreement March 21 to plead guilty […]

By Christina Calloway CMI STAFF WRITER ccalloway@pntonline.com Sen. Stuart Ingle says legislation passed to attract and retain businesses to New Mexico may not fix all of the state's problems but it's a step in the right direction. Ingle, R-Portales, hopes that lowering the corporate tax rate from 7.6 percent to 5.9 percent will help New […]

Local fire chiefs say they won't tell you anything different in regard to fire safety this year since drought conditions in the state are predicted to persist or worsen in the next few months or so, according to a recent National Weather Service report. They only ask that residents continue to exercise caution by assessing […]

Gregory Lopez and Harry Black remember the way they were treated when they returned from their tours in Vietnam, hence their appreciation for the Clovis City Commission proclaiming Friday as Vietnam Veterans Day in Clovis. "I sure wish we received a better welcome (when returning from Vietnam)," said Lopez, 66, of Clovis, who served in […]

Kevin Spears revisited the Floyd Lions Club Country Jamboree for the first time in more than 10 years Saturday night to watch his son Hayden perform songs by country music stars. "I'm always surprised at how much local talent we have," said Spears, 36, office administrator at the Ninth Judicial District Attorney's office in Clovis. […]

Irma Saiz, a detention officer in training, held her right hand up, next to her face. She dropped her hand to signify she was ready, and then a stream of pepper spray, which looked like buffalo wing sauce, hit her in the face. "I was ready, and it hurt a lot more than I thought […]

Ryan Willoughby ran into the Commons Area of Clovis Community College Friday on his way to take a test when he saw a photo that reminded him of home. CMI staff photo: Christina Calloway Joy Simon looks at her first place sculpture proudly Friday at the Pintores Art League Spring Fling exhibition on Clovis Community […]

District Judge Drew Tatum will issue a decision that will have ramifications for the mentally retarded Marcos Maestas, who was arrested in connection with an April 2010 robbery of a bank in Melrose. Maestas' three accomplices who were arrested with him have pleaded guilty, and they are incarcerated. Discussed during the Friday morning hearing was […]

Retired U.S. marine Col. Joe Long says looking to start a successful business should be like a walk-off home run; an idea for a business can be a guaranteed winner but you still have to circle all of the bases to get there. Long used baseball analogies, an Elvis Presley impersonation, and a patriotic song […]

A Portales man was killed in a two-vehicle accident Thursday morning on N.M. 267. The accident also resulted in minor injuries for the driver of the other vehicle and a 45-minute power outage in Roosevelt County, according to New Mexico State Police. Richard Luckau, 34, of Portales was pronounced dead at Roosevelt General Hospital, according […]

Clerks in Curry and Roosevelt counties aren't budging on their position against same-sex marriage licenses. Clerks in both counties said Wednesday they are following state law when they say no to same-sex marriage licenses. And no means no, according to Curry County Clerk Rosalie Riley, despite efforts by others to convince county clerks otherwise. County […]

Rebecca Eminger compares her consenting to allow Southwestern Public Service Company to survey her land east of town on New Mexico 88 to opening a floodgate of problems. Eminger, 65, fears this one step will eventually lead to the condemnation of less than 6 acres of her land as a result of an eminent domain […]

A $112 million increase in the state's public education system means changes in testing, more funds for early childhood education, a 1 percent raise for employees and keeping up with rises in insurance costs, according to Sen. Pat Woods, R-Broadview. CMI Graphic: Philip Hall Woods, who is a member of the Senate's education committee, said […]

Southwestern Public Service, which provides electricity to eastern New Mexico and West Texas, has already met New Mexico's renewable energy mandate of 15 percent that will go into effect in 2015. Now SPS is seeking proposals for wind energy projects so they can increase the amount of power in the SPS grid. "We generate power, […]

Rebecca Lynn Eminger figures it's a David vs. Goliath type fight, but she's not going to give up a parcel of her land without a fight. In a court filing, Southwestern Public Service Company contends they need less than 6 acres of Eminger's land off New Mexico 88 for construction of a transmission line. SPS […]

Years ago when a pet cat died of unknown causes, it seemed reasonable to follow the vet's suggestion and have her tested for rabies. Though it was unlikely rabies had caused her illness, it was still a relief to know conclusively — even if it was shocking when the lab technician left a message describing […]